Upcoming Releases: January, 2026


 We've reached a new year. That leaves us with plenty of options at theaters, including our first new releases of 2026 and some late 2025 releases getting a wider push. Let's dive in.

Friday, January 2:
The Plague (Theaters): This one got a limited release on Christmas Day and now is going wider. It's about a teen struggling to fit in. Some highs and lows here.

We Bury the Dead (Theaters): A horror film set in Australia and featuring Daisy Ridley as a woman who travels to the area of a pandemic to look for her husband. Feels like about the right launch into 2026.

Friday, January 9:
Primate (Theaters): The first wide release of 2026 is another horror film, this one about a killer ape. It looks like it might not be great.

Greenland 2: Migration (Theaters): Did we need a sequel to Greenland? Probably not. And yet, I'm kind of excited for this.

Is This Thing On? (Theaters): This is Bradley Cooper's latest film. It got a limited release in December and is one of the best comedies of last year.

The Chronology of Water (Theaters): This is the directorial debut of Kristen Stewart. It's an interesting biopic with a great lead performance from Imogen Poots.

The People We Meet On Vacation (Netflix): A romantic comedy based on the novel from Emily Henry. This looks like a fun streamer to kick start the year.

Friday, January 16:
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Theater): This is a sequel to last year's horror film, focusing on Ralph Fiennes character. This should be an interesting early year release.

Charlie the Wonderdog (Theaters): The first new animated film of the year. This one features the voice talents of Owen Wilson and should be fun.

Dead Man's Wire (Theater): A biopic from Gus Van Sant. It tells the story of a desperate man who had to change his fortune. A good performance from Bill Skarsgard.

Hamnet (Theaters): This is an expansion of Chloe Zhao's film, which is likely a Best Picture contender and based on the novel.

The Rip (Netflix): Ben Affleck and Matt Damon team in this action film. I'm actually fairly excited to see this one.

Friday, January 23:
H is for Hawk (Theaters): This features Claire Foy as a woman dealing with the death of her father by taking on a goshawk. It's based on a true story and an emotional journey.

Mercy (Theaters): A futuristic crime drama with Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson. This feels like a rip off of previous, better ideas.

The Testament of Ann Lee (Theaters): This late 2025 film gets a wide release. Amanda Seyfried is amazing as Shaker movement founder Ann Lee.

Return to Silent Hill (Theaters): Another horror release to start the year. This doesn't exactly look like appointment viewing.

Friday, January 30:
Arco (Theaters): This anime story was a late 2025 release that gets a wide push here. I thought it was brightly colorful and tells a poignant story. Should be good for all audiences.

Send Help (Theaters): The latest from director Sam Raimi. This is a creepy tale featuring Rachel McAdams. It looks like a potentially good time at the movies.

Shelter (Theaters): It wouldn't be a good year if we didn't feature an early year offering from Jason Statham. This is his latest action adventure and it looks like a fun romp.

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